The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-05
HAMPERED BY THE NEWLAW
Disastrous Effect OF the Interstate Act
on Business to and from Canada.
Freights Delayed and Commerce Seriously
Damaged-The Atchisons Big Plans-The
st. Paul Yields to the Eastern Lines.

WASHINGTON, May 4-The State Department
has received and transmitted TO the Interstate
commerce Commission the following letter from
the United States commercial agent at London,
Ont relative to the effects Of the terstate com
rnerce law on trade between the United States
and Canada:
LONDON, Ont, April %.
'Hon James d. Porter Assistant Secretary of State.
Sir deem il but proper to apprise you of
the disastrous effect of the interstate-coD merce
bill on i'm ports and exports to and from Canad a
and the United States, il being matter of i'm
portance to our merchants and manufacturers
and also 70 the revenue of our government The
result of the act has been most damaging to US,
both as regards exports and imports. and Is Sc
verey felt by both the buyers and sellers 20 and
from the United States. The records Of this OF
fee for the month of April show less activity
and fewer exports than ever before for the same
period, and the same believe to be true through
out Canada; in fact for a week after the Dill took
effect business was at dead staudstll, and Is at
present confined almost exclusively to points
like Buffalo and Detroit, which are Immediately
across the line and require haul over Amer
lean railways. The Canadian railways cannot
yet give through rate over their own and con-
meeting American lines, aud shippers are conse-
quently unwilling to let their goods go to the
frontier. not knowing what the future delivery
to an inland or seaboard point will cost This.
however, is by no means the worst feature of
the case. the Importance of receiving Canada's
exports is lost when compared with the damage
done our import trade into Canada. As
showed in my annual report. we, las: year, lost
some 10 per cent of an advantage over England
in this market, and where competition is SO
keen and freights from England and New York
so near the same in the busy season of selling
goods for delivery we give the Englishman
great advantage over by his being able to
name the exact rate of freight while the Amer
lean salesman. in the present chaotic condition
OF railway tariffs. cannot say whether the rates
on his goods will be five dollars hun
dred pounds. A settlement must shortly be ar
damage that it will take years to regain the
lost trade and the prestige which we now enjoy
in this country.
To exemplify: A case has just come to my
notice of n Canadian merchant who tried to
make purchase of California goods amounting
TO about $40 600, but had to give it up
count Of the inability of the American railways
to make him freight rate, and consequently
purchased elsewhere. And in some where
shipments have gone out the rates have been so
much higher than before the passage of the bill
that they have absorbed all profit and discour-
aged shippers from repeating their consign-
ments; the increase has been from % to 100 per
cent above the old rates, which is a bad condition
of affairs while prices remain the This is
also true as regards American goods coming into
Canada, and rates high and irregular that
merchants mere are grumbling, and will find
other places to purchase if the evil be not cor
rected. There are now lying here thirty-one
carloads of a single commodity, waiting rates
over United States railways. which will probably
be SO high that it will be possible to export it.
II submit the above facts without comment
as to a remedy. But they are hard facts, and
ones for which relief should be found at once.
Il have the honor. etc,
civilian ID. H. WASHINGTON,
United States Commercial Agent"